HomeMy WebLinkAboutSDP201800082 Review Comments 2019-02-12 Christopher Perez
From: John Anderson
Sent: Tuesday, February 12, 2019 6:46 PM
To: Justin Shimp, P.E.
Cc: Christopher Perez; Kendra Patrick; Frank Pohl
Subject: RE: SDP201800082 - Oak Hill Convenience Store, FSP --guardrail
Justin,
I will call,tomorrow, but at this point, wonder what is unclear about site plan and retaining wall checklists. These
documents(images, below)specifically address need for"guardrail [VDOT GR-2] with VDOT designations or equivalent
shown for retaining walls next to parking or travelways." After restating the comment, after reviewing 4' space rather
than guardrail, I am uncertain if intent is to identify expense that appears unreasonable. If so, checklists become useless,
since they are designed for transparency,to protect resources,to guide design,to speed review and approval. I do not
believe Engineering applies checklists arbitrarily. We believe checklists reflect standards designed to protect health or
safety in ways the public may never know. For what it's worth,the public does not implicitly or always trust engineers
(yet trust remains important; https://www.nspe.org/resources/pe-magazine/july-2018/the-value-trust). I believe many
designers accept or value checklists,especially if a checklist-based design approach provides quicker approval.
This note took time,as did yours, as do plan revisions, and review. Checklist items exist for a reason. Please feel free to
contact the County Engineer since this email restates checklist requirement for GR-2 guardrail for parking spaces
identified now in several rounds of comments as requiring guardrail protection, given max. 8-ft. vertical interval. I may
be wrong, but would be surprised if the County Engineer vacates a design requirement whose driving imperative is safety,
but please feel free to ask. Thank you.
best,
J. Anderson 434.296-5832 -x3069
From:Justin Shimp, P.E.<justin@shimp-engineering.com>
Sent:Tuesday, February 12, 2019 4:52 PM
To:John Anderson<janderson2@albemarle.org>
Cc:Christopher Perez<cperez@albemarle.org>; Kendra Patrick<kendra@shimp-engineering.com>
Subject: Re: SDP201800082 -Oak Hill Convenience Store, FSP--guardrail
Hello John,
Just tried to call, I'm not sure we are talking about the same thing here.
In reference to the 1401b object falling 8' -we are absolutely proposing a pedestrian guardrail, which we refer to as a
hand rail.That protects people, children certainly,from accidentally falling off the wall.Our objection is more about the
guardrail for vehicles,think GR-2.
Which are you saying is required?
I get that if the wall is right under the curb,that is a potentially issue as if you accidentally put your car in drive instead of
reverse, and then somehow give it enough power for the car to climb the curb and go over that puts you in a tough
situation.We moved the wall back such that if somebody did drive over the curb they have a chance to recover before
going over the wall. I tend to think that if you were the kind of driver that from a stop would accelerate with such force
in the wrong direction that you would go over a curb and past a 4' buffer that you are perhaps more likely to hit a tree
as you are driving down the road,or another car... I guess I'm saying that I see the potential for much greater danger
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with that sort of driving on the highways than in a parking lot. If we had a dead end travel way for example,that would
be different.
Just give me a call if that isn't clear. I agree with you 100%on the pedestrian rail,just not on the GR-2 type vehicular
guardrail.
Justin Shimp, P.E.
434-953-6116
On Feb 7, 2019, at 9:37 AM,John Anderson<janderson2@albemarle.org>wrote:
Justin,
I will try to call later, but have to complete a site plan review. Please consider:
1/23/19 Engineering review comment item#23:
<image003 jpg>
Final Site Plan checklist(excerpt)
Retaining Wall Plans checklist. Any walls supporting roads or necessary
infrastructure require engineered plans (not generic manufacturer's details) and
computations. {Design Manual, section 8}This will also be required where walls are
close to property lines and there is the danger of affecting neighboring property, either
during construction, with later failures, or with pedestrian or vehicle safety. These
concerns can be alleviate with layout spacing also. In any case, retaining walls will
require building permits at construction.
Retaining Wall plan checklist(excerpt)
Plans :
safety railing shown for retaining walls over 4' high
guardrail with VDOT designations or equivalent shown for retaining walls next to
parking or travelways
Unless web reference is in error,the calculated force of impact of a 140 lb. object(a body, for example)
dropped from a ht. of 8' stopping upon impact over a distance of 1', if concentrated to a point, is 5.8 tons
(lb.-force);this force can cause injury.
I am glad to speak with you, understand there may be sites with retaining walls in Albemarle without
guardrail, but these are not reasons to waive review guidelines,or withdraw request for guardrail in this
instance.
Thanks Justin
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-best,
J. Anderson 434.296-5832 -x3069
John Anderson, PE,Civil Engineer II • (434)296-5832-x3069
Community Development Dept. 1 Engineering Division
County of Albemarle 1401 McIntire Road
Charlottesville,Virginia 22902-4596
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